DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CARRIER SUPPRESSION IN A FREQUENCY-REFERENTIAL PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of optical communication and more specifically, to an apparatus and a method of carrier suppression in frequency referenced passive optical network and other optical networks with a point to multi-point architecture.BACKGROUND

[0002] In optical communication, optical access network based on a passive optical network (PON) technology typically has a point to multi-point (P2MP) architecture, where modulated light is transmitted over a shared optical fiber infrastructure. The conventional passive optical network may include optical power splitters in a field-deployed optical distribution network (ODU) without any active power supplies. Moreover, in the optical access networks, data is generally broadcasted to all users via a downstream transmission (or link) of the conventional passive optical network. Further, in an upstream link, such passive optical networks apply time-division multiplexing (TDM) for data multiplexing, where each user sends its data at the assigned time slots, such as to avoid data collision with other users in the shared fiber infrastructure. However, the conventional time-division multiplexing-based upstream link requires a burst optical transmitter at optical network units (ONUs) and also requires burst mode receivers at optical line terminals (OLT) (or central offices (OC)). However, such optical transmitter and burst mode receivers are expensive and technically challenging in terms of data multiplexing, especially for passive optical networks with a high data rate (e.g., 50 gigabits (Gb) / s and beyond). Moreover, an inherent latency (e.g., depending on the split ratio) and jitter associated with the time-division multiplexing limits industrial applications because each optical network unit needs a high bandwidth component even if they can achieve a much lower average bit rate. Therefore, it is difficult to expand or scale services of the time-division multiplexing-based passive optical network so as to support emerging applications (e.g., fifth-generation (5G), autonomous driving, augmented reality (AR), a tactile internet, and the like).

[0003] Currently, certain attempts have been made to improve the architecture of the time-division multiplexing-based passive optical networks, for example, by using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) and code division multiplexing (CDM). In one of the recent attemps, a frequency lock loop (FLL) unit at each optical network unit is used for the uplink transmission in a frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network. In this case, the frequency lock loop unit in the end node enables to lock its laser frequency so as to adaptively track assigned reference frequencies sent from the central node. Further, a control loop keeps tracking the reference frequencies and forces the end node laser frequency to keep a required relative frequency difference to the reference frequencies (e.g., based on a frequency comb laser and a single frequency laser). Thus, in the frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network, a large number of users can transmit their optical signals simultaneously. However, such transmission leads to a problem at the upstream link (e.g., receiver), which detects upstream signals of all the users (or at least a group of users) simultaneously utilizing coherent detection systems. Further, in the frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical networks architecture that uses intensity modulation (IM) for the upstream link, each optical network unit signal inherently contains a large residual optical carrier frequency at its respective transmission frequency. Such residual optical carrier frequency is necessary for direct detection (DD) systems and not required in coherent detection systems, where the transmitted information is obtained from modulation sidebands of the optical signal in the frequency domain only. However, a large power that is aggregated by a multitude of the residual optical carrier frequency received in any frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network using a single coherent detection has a risk of overloading the optical line terminal receiver components, such as by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). This is because a useful user signal in the frequency division multiplexing passive optical network is like a noise of the residual carrier signal. Therefore, such carrier signal covers a considerably large amplitude range of overall user signals as compared to the useful user signal, and as a consequence, effective quantization bits used for the user data is reduced. As a result, large quantization noise is introduced to the user signal. Further, the more the residual optical carrier frequency coexist, the larger is the quantization noise, which degrades overall performance. Therefore, it is necessary to remove or at least suppress the residual optical carrier frequency in the frequency division multiplexing passive optical network.

[0004] Conventionally, the residual optical carrier frequency of a single optical network unit can be filtered out by using a narrow optical band-stop filter, which blocks the transmission of the residual optical carrier frequency. Such filters (or external filters) include generating a single-sideband optical signal for the residual optical carrier frequency suppression. However, in frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network, such filtering requires either a large number of tuned optical filters (TOFs) or fixed filters and narrow optical filters for each transmission wavelength together with a defined wavelength control over the respective transmitted signals. As a consequence, suppression of the residual optical carrier frequency becomes very complex and expensive and thus not feasible for passive optical networks in which operation cost is critical. In another conventional approach, a mach-zehnder interferometer modulator may be used to modulate the optical signal of an external laser source in a way that the (unused) residual optical carrier frequency exits at one port, whereas modulated sidebands only exit at another port. However, this is too costly for upstream carrier suppression in an intensity modulation-coherent frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network, as such approach requires an expensive mach-zehnder-based solution with an external light source at each optical network unit. In a yet another approach, a periodic filter (e.g., a spectrum correction optical filter) may be aligned with a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) upstream signals, such as center wavelengths of the periodic filters loss peaks, at which the transmittance becomes minimal, and may coincide with the center wavelength of each optical signal in a wavelength division multiplexing system. However, in such an approach, an accurate alignment of the periodic filter and each separate wavelength division multiplexing light source is required to enable efficient carrier suppression. Therefore, a feedback control loop is required to align the periodic filter to minimize the detected power at the receiver. Alternatively, the feedback information may be used from a measured bit-error rate from a transmitted differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) optical signal for the periodic filter alignment. However, such approaches are based on the assumption that each of the wavelength division multiplexing upstream and downstream transmitters is perfectly aligned to the international telecommunication union telecommunication standardization sector (ITU-T) grid (or any other nominal value). Moreover, such an assumption is generally not valid under realistic operation conditions, where the individual transmitters are usually allowed to deviate (e.g., by a few gigahertz (GHz)) from their assigned operation frequency.

[0005] In certain scenarios, the periodic filter (or periodic optical filter) is positioned in an optical transmission path for generating a plurality of dispersion tolerant single-sideband optical signals simultaneously for a plurality of optical transmitters by suppressing the other sideband of an original double-sideband signal. In such scenarios, a spectral alignment between the periodic filter and the plurality of transmitters is here achieved based on a feedback loop. For which each transmitter is modulated with a unique low-frequency (e.g., kilohertz (kHz) or megahertz (MHz)) pilot tone, whose signal strength after the periodic filter is maximized by adjusting the center frequency of the respective transmitter. Moreover, in such scenarios, the periodic filter is fixed and aligned to the ITU-T grid or shifted by a half channel spacing. However, this is based on the assumption that the periodic filter is independent of temperature or other environmental changes. However, in such scenarios, an additional filter alignment or stabilization scheme is required to guarantee that the periodic filter properties do not deviate or drift away substantially from its originally targeted characteristics. Therefore, there is no universal solution available for a central, robust wavelength alignment scheme between the optical filter and the multitude of transmitters. Moreover, there exists a technical problem of high cost and complexity associated with carrier suppression in frequency division multiplexing passive optical network systems.

[0006] WO02 / 061981A2 generally discloses a bidirectional optical communications system comprising two transceivers, each transceiver having an optical data input and an optical data output, wherein the optical data output of each transceiver is coupled to the optical data input of the other transceiver and each transceiver comprises at least one transmitter-receiver pair. Each transmitter-receiver pair comprises a laser source for generating a laser beam, an optical splitter coupled to the laser source for splitting the laser beam into a source beam and a local oscillator beam, an optical transmitter coupled to receive the source beam from the optical splitter for modulating the source beam with a received electrical data signal to generate an optical data signal, and a heterodyne receiver coupled to receive the local oscillator beam from the optical splitter for recovering an electrical data signal from an optical data signal using the local oscillator beam as an optical local oscillator in a heterodyne detection process.

[0007] EP2573961A1 generally discloses an optical frequency locking method for tuning each of a plurality of narrow-band optical channel transmit signals to a dedicated optical channel frequency. The channel transmit signals have arbitrary channel frequency spacings. The method comprises, for each channel transmit signal, the steps of (a) tapping-off a portion of the optical power of the channel transmit signal to be tuned and filtering the tapped-off channel transmit signal using at least one optical filter device having a periodic transfer function, the periodicity of the transfer function being unequal to the fixed channel frequency spacing, (b) monitoring, as an optical input signal, the optical power of the channel transmit signal supplied to the at least one optical filter device and, as an optical output signal, the optical power of the filtered channel transmit signal, and (c) tuning, within a predetermined locking range for the dedicated optical channel frequency, the optical frequency of the respective channel transmit signal such that a predetermined value for the ratio of the output signal and the input signal or, between multiple output signals, corresponding to the dedicated optical channel frequency (lock-in point) is reached.

[0008] MARKUS ROPPELT ET AL, "Tuning methods for uncooled low-cost tunable lasers in WDM-PON", 2011 OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION AND THE NATIONAL FIBER OPTIC ENGINEERS CONFERENCE (OFC / NFOEC 2011) : LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA, 6 - 10 MARCH 2011, IEEE, PISCATAWAY, NJ, USA, (20110306) generally discloses a method of tuning uncooled low-cost lasers without an integrated wave locker via a shared, centralized wave locker in a WDM-PON context.

[0009] Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the conventional approaches of carrier suppression in frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network systems.SUMMARY

[0010] The present invention is defined by the independent claims. In the following, parts of the description and drawings referring to former embodiments which do not necessarily comprise all features to implement embodiments of the claimed invention are not represented as embodiments of the invention but as examples useful for understanding the embodiments of the invention.

[0011] The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus of carrier suppression in frequency referenced passive optical network. The present disclosure provides a solution to the existing problem of high cost and complexity associated with carrier suppression in frequency division multiplexing-based passive optical network systems. An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in the prior art and provides an improved method and apparatus of carrier suppression in frequency referenced passive optical network, which is cost-efficient and has reduced complexity.

[0012] One or more objectives of the present disclosure is achieved by the solutions provided in the enclosed independent claims. Advantageous implementations of the present disclosure are further defined in the dependent claims.

[0013] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network, PON, with point to multi-point, P2MP, topology comprising a central node and end nodes, where each end node is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal frequency and to lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter, and the central node comprises a single coherent receiver for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical signals from the end nodes, the apparatus being arranged in the central node and comprising a periodic optical filter unit configured for suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by filtering a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, and a control unit configured for monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit with the frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0014] The apparatus of the present disclosure improves suppression of the residual optical carriers with the periodic optical filter unit. Moreover, the control unit of the apparatus improves the alignment of the downlink frequency comb signal spectrally with the periodic optical filter unit. In addition, the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal are tuned in the apparatus, which is similar to tunning of the residual optical carriers. Thus, the downlink frequency comb signal coordinates reference tone (or frequency), residual optical carrier, and the periodic optical filter unit. Beneficially, the combined uplink signal of each end node has a dedicated gap between residual optical carriers and a sideband of the combined uplink signal to tolerate the frequency offset between residual optical carrier and its reference tone. Thus, a filter profile of the periodic optical filter unit does not get affected with the frequency offset.

[0015] In an implementation form, the periodic optical filter unit has a free spectral range close to a channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network, PON.

[0016] In this implementation, the periodic optical filter unit of the central node suppresses all residual optical carriers simultaneously without any complexity.

[0017] In a further implementation form, the periodic optical filter unit comprises a first optical filter and a second optical filter, identical to the first optical filter, with the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal passing through the first optical filter and the combined uplink signal passing through the second optical filter.

[0018] As the periodic optical filter unit comprises the first optical filter and the second optical filter, thus the spectral alignment of the downlink frequency comb signal to the periodic optical filter unit would not affect the uplink communication that already exists, as the alignment control and filter process of the combined uplink signal are separated in different filters , such as the first optical filter and the second optical filter of the periodic optical filter unit.

[0019] In a further implementation form, each of the first optical filter and the second optical filter comprises one of a microring resonator, a Fabry-Perot etalon, a multi-cavity etalon, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

[0020] By virtue of the apparatus of the present disclosure, the residual optical carrier problems are overcome with improved performance.

[0021] In a further implementation form, the periodic optical filter unit comprises an optical filter with multiple optical ports wherein the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal passes in one direction or path of the optical filter and the combined uplink signal passes in another direction or path of the optical filter.

[0022] The optical filter of this implementation minimizes the output power of a control (or the control units) direction or path. Beneficially, in the case of the optical filter, the output power of the downlink frequency comb signal further tunes either the optical filter or the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0023] In a further implementation form, the optical filter comprises one of a microring resonator, a Fabry-Perot etalon, a multi-cavity etalon, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

[0024] In this implementation, the apparatus of the present disclosure solves the residual optical carrier problems with improved performance.

[0025] In a further implementation form, the control unit comprises a photodiode, PD, which is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit with the downlink frequency comb signal to minimize the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0026] Beneficially, the control unit is easy to apply, as the photodiode of the control unit relies on the alignment of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0027] In a further implementation form, the control unit comprises a thermo-electronic controller, TEC, a phase modulator, an electro-optic modulator, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, an intra-cavity etalon.

[0028] In this implementation, the control unit minimizes / maximizes the residual optical carriers at the output of the periodic optical filter unit.

[0029] In a further implementation form, the control unit is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit with the frequency comb signal by means of tuning a central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0030] Beneficially, a suitable alignment between the periodic optical filter unit with the downlink frequency comb signal leads to a minimum detected output power of the control unit.

[0031] In a further implementation form, the control unit is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit with the frequency comb signal by means of tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0032] By virtue of tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal, deviation in the downlink frequency comb signal is minimized.

[0033] In a further implementation form, the control unit is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit with the frequency comb signal by means of tuning a central frequency of the periodic optical filter unit.

[0034] In this implementation, tuning a central frequency of the periodic optical filter unit minimizes the output power of the periodic optical filter unit (or the first optical filter).

[0035] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network, PON, with point to multi-point, P2MP, topology comprising a central node and end nodes, where each end node is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter, and the central node comprises a single coherent receiver for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes, the method comprising separating a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by periodic optical filtering the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filtering with the frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0036] The method achieves all the advantages and effects of the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0037] It is to be appreciated that all the aforementioned implementation forms can be combined. It has to be noted that all devices, elements, circuitry, units and means described in the present application could be implemented in the software or hardware elements or any kind of combination thereof. All steps which are performed by the various entities described in the present application as well as the functionalities described to be performed by the various entities are intended to mean that the respective entity is adapted to or configured to perform the respective steps and functionalities. Even if, in the following description of specific embodiments, a specific functionality or step to be performed by external entities is not reflected in the description of a specific detailed element of that entity which performs that specific step or functionality, it should be clear for a skilled person that these methods and functionalities can be implemented in respective software or hardware elements, or any kind of combination thereof. It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0038] Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative implementations construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

[0040] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein: FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates various exemplary components of a central node, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1C is a block diagram that illustrates various exemplary components of an end node, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network (PON) with point to multi-point (P2MP) topology, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3B is a block diagram of an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a control algorithm to stabilize a thermo-electronic controller, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4B is a graphical representation that illustrates a relationship between a center frequency tunning of a downlink frequency comb signal and a normalized output power of a periodic optical filter unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5A is an illustration that depicts multi-stage micro ring filters, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 5B is an illustration that depicts a Fabry-Perot etalon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.

[0043] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to FIG.1A, there is shown a block diagram 100A of an apparatus 102. There is further shown a central node 104 and end nodes 106A-106N, a central node transmitter 108, a single coherent receiver 110, a periodic optical filter unit 112, and a control unit 114. There is further shown a remote node 116, a central node optical link 118, and end node optical links 120A-120N. There is further show a first optical filter 122, a second optical filter 124, an optical filter 126, multiple optical ports 128A-128N, microring resonators 130A, 130B and 130C, Fabry-Perot etalons 132A, 132B and 132C, multi-cavity etalons 134A, 134B and 134C, Mach-Zehnder interferometers 136A, 136B, 136C and 136D, a photodiode (PD) 138, a thermo-electronic controller (TEC) 140, a phase modulator 142, an electro-optic modulator 144, and an intra-cavity etalon 146.

[0044] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus 102 for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network, PON, with point to multi-point, P2MP, topology comprising a central node 104 and end nodes 106A-106N, where each end node 106A-106N is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and to lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter 108, and the central node 104 comprises a single coherent receiver 110 for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes 104A-104N, the apparatus 102 being arranged in the central node 104 and comprising: a periodic optical filter unit 112 configured for suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by filtering a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, and a control unit 114 configured for monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0045] The apparatus 102 is configured for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology that comprises the central node 104 and end nodes 106A-106N. The passive optical network corresponds to a shared optical fiber (or a fiber-optic) network utilizing the point to multi-point topology. The point to multi-point topology (or communication) is based on a power-split network where a downlink signal, such as a reference signal (or downlink frequency comb signal, an optical frequency, wavelength), is broadcasted from the central node 104 to each of the end node 106A-106N. The apparatus 102 in comparison to the conventional approach, is used to overcome the problem of residual optical carrier frequency and also of carrier suppression in frequency division multiplexing (FDM) systems using low-cost components.

[0046] The central node 104 is a starting point for the passive optical network (PON). The central node 104 includes the central node transmitter 108 that is configured to transmit information in the form of an optical signal, such as the downlink frequency comb signal (or wavelengths) to each end node 106A-106N through the remote node 116 and the central node optical link 118. The central node 104 further includes the single coherent receiver 110 for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes 106A-106N. In an example, the central node 104 is also configured to coordinate the multiplexing between the end nodes 106A-106N. In another example, the central node 104 has two float transmission directions, such as an upstream transmission (e.g., to receive data from the end nodes 106A-106N ) and a downstream transmission (e.g., transmit data to the end nodes 106A-106N ). The central node 104 may also be referred to as central offices (OC), optical line terminals (OLT), optical line termination (OLT), and the like.

[0047] The end nodes 106A-106N include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to receive an optical signal via the respective end node optical links 120A-120N and the remote node 116. Each end node 106A-106N is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and to lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of the reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter 108. In an example, each end node 106A-106N may further convert the optical signal to an electrical signal. Each end node 104A-104N is further configured to send, aggregate, and processes different types of data coming from different users associated therewith and transmit the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to the central node 104. In an example, the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal is transmitted using an intensity-modulated transmitter. In an example, each end node 106A-106N may also be referred to as optical network terminals (ONT), optical network units (ONU), and the like.

[0048] The central node transmitter 108 is an optical transmitter, which includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to transmit information in the form of an optical signal through optical links, such as the central node optical link 118. The central node transmitter 108 may also be referred to as an optical module. Examples of the central node transmitter 108 include but are not limited to a transmitter, an optical transmitter, or a fiber optic transmitter, and the like.

[0049] The single coherent receiver 110 is configured to receive and detect the combined uplink signal from the end nodes 106A-106N. In an example, the single coherent receiver 110 detects information in the form of an optical signal through the central node optical link 118 and converts the optical signal into the electric signal. The single coherent receiver 110 may also be referred to as an optical module. Examples of the single coherent receiver 110 include, but are not limited to, a receiver, an optical receiver, or a fiber optic receiver, and the like.

[0050] The periodic optical filter unit 112 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured for filtering a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal to suppress residual optical carriers of all end nodes 106A-106N in the combined uplink signal. In an example, the periodic optical filter unit 112 further includes the first optical filter 122, the second optical filter 124, and the optical filter 126. The periodic optical filter unit 112 may also be referred to as a tunable optical filter (TOF).

[0051] The control unit 114 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to monitor the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. Further, the control unit 114 is configured to spectrally align the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0052] The remote node 116 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to be used in the passive optical network (PON) with a point to multi-point (P2MP) topology. The remote node 116 enables a communication between the central node 104 and the end nodes 106A-106N.

[0053] The central node optical link 118 and each of the end node optical links 120A-120N is a bidirectional communication link that comprises a double end-to-end optical circuit, which provides a data connection medium between two points. Examples of the central node optical link 118 and the end node optical links 120A-120N include, but are not limited to, an optical fiber (such as multimode optical fiber, a single-mode optical fiber, or a plastic optical fiber), or an active optical cable (AOC), or a full-duplex optical link.

[0054] The first optical filter 122, the second optical filter 124, and the optical filter 126 include a suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to perform filtering operation. The second optical filter 124 is identical to the first optical filter 122. In an example, the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124 includes one of the microring resonator 130A, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, the multi-cavity etalon 134A, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136A. Similarly, the second optical filter 124 includes one of the microring resonator 130B, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132B, the multi-cavity etalon 134B, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136B. In another example, the optical filter 126 having multiple optical ports 128A-128N includes one of the microring resonator 130C, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132C, the multi-cavity etalon 134C, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136C.

[0055] Multiple optical ports 128A-128N include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that are configured to pass different optical signals, such as the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal. Each of the microring resonators 130A, 130B, and 130C is configured to exhibit resonance or resonant behavior. Each of the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, 132B, and 132C, the multi-cavity etalon 134A, 134B and 134C, and the intra-cavity etalon 146 is an optical cavity in which optical waves can pass through the optical cavity only when they are in resonance with the optical cavity. In an example, each Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, 132B, and 132C includes two mirrors (or lens).

[0056] Each Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136A, 136B, 136C, and 136D includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to determine the relative phase shift variations between two collimated beams of an optical signal. The photodiode 138 is also referred to as semiconductor photodiodes, which is configured to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal.

[0057] The thermo-electronic controller 140 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to control a wavelength of an optical signal. In an example, the thermo-electronic controller 140 is configured to tune either the first optical filter 122 (and the second optical filter 124 ) or the downlink frequency comb signal (or optical frequency comb generator).

[0058] The phase modulator 142 and the electro-optic modulator 144 include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to modulate an optical signal, such as to modulate the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0059] In operation, each end node 106A-106N is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and to lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter 108. The central node 104 comprises a single coherent receiver 110 for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes 106A-106N. The apparatus 102 being arranged in the central node 104 and comprising the periodic optical filter unit 112 configured for suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by filtering a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, and a control unit 114 configured for monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In other words, each end node 106A-106N generates the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal (e.g., via uplink laser source) with a central frequency, and the central node transmitter 108 broadcasts the downlink frequency comb signal with reference tones. In an example, the downlink frequency comb signal is generated by an optical frequency comb generator (OFCG) of the central node 104. In another example, the downlink frequency comb signal keeps all reference tones (or frequencies) in on stage. Thereafter, each end node 106A-106N locks the central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal, such as to transmit the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal at the central frequency to the central node 104. In an example, a frequency locked loop (FLL) is used in each end node 106A-106N to lock the central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal in an adaptive manner and with a high accuracy based on a type of an intensity modulator used in each end node 106A-106N. Thereafter, the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals generated by the end nodes 106A-106N, such as the combined uplink signal, is further detected (or received) by the single coherent receiver 110 of the central node 104. In an example, the combined uplink signal detected by the single coherent receiver 110 inherently contains large residual optical carriers at its respective transmission frequency. In another example, the combined uplink signal, as well as the downlink frequency comb signal, are further received by the periodic optical filter unit 112. Thereafter, the periodic optical filter unit 112 filters a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is used by the periodic optical filter unit 112 to suppress the residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal of the end nodes 106A-106N. Beneficially, in comparison with the conventional approach, a centralized control within the central node 104 is simple (i.e., not complex), as the residual optical carriers of each end node 106A-106N are suppressed simultaneously within the periodic optical filter unit 112 of the central node 104.

[0060] In an example, each end node 106A-106N might be switched on / off occasionally (e.g., upon registration / de-registration), which may lead to an issue in the reliability of an alignment with periodic optical filter unit 112. Therefore, the control unit 114 monitors the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, as the downlink frequency comb signal keeps all reference tones in on stage all the time. In an example, the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal has more than -40 decibel-milliwatts (dBm) power. The power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is further used by the control unit 114 to align the periodic optical filter unit 112 spectrally with the downlink frequency comb signal. In other words, the apparatus 102 of the present disclosure is configured to monitor the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal (or downlink reference frequency comb signal) and provides feedback to the control unit 114. As a result, the feedback is further used by the apparatus 102 to spectrally align the downlink frequency comb signal and the periodic optical filter unit 112 (or optical filter). Further, the periodic optical filter unit 112 suppresses the residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal of the end nodes 106A-106N efficiently. In an example, the control unit 114 is configured to tune either the downlink frequency comb signal (e.g., via wavelength) or the periodic optical filter unit 112 (e.g., via temperature) to spectrally align the downlink frequency comb signal with the periodic optical filter unit 112. Beneficially, in comparison with the conventional approaches, the apparatus 102 of the present disclosure provides an improved and a novel approach to align the downlink frequency comb signal spectrally with the periodic optical filter unit 112. In an example, the spectral alignment is used to minimize the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. Beneficially, the suitable alignment leads to a minimum detected power (or output power). In another example, the alignment between the downlink frequency comb signal and the periodic optical filter unit 112 is equivalent to the alignment between the combined uplink signal of each end node 106A-106N and the periodic optical filter unit 112, with negligible frequency offset (e.g., few megahertz (MHz). Therefore, a filter profile of the periodic optical filter unit 112 does not get affected with such frequency offset, as the combined uplink signal of each end node 106A-106N has a dedicated gap between residual optical carriers and the combined uplink signal sideband to tolerate such frequency offset.

[0061] In an implementation, the spectral alignment of the downlink frequency comb signal (or wavelength) to the periodic optical filter unit 112 is centralized in the central node 104 with a global control mechanism. In an example, the periodic optical filter unit 112 is well aligned with the downlink frequency comb signal in the central node 104. Further, the control unit 114 continuously monitors the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal at the output of the periodic optical filter unit 112 (or filter path), which is dedicated to the control unit 114 for monitoring purposes. In another example, the downlink frequency comb signal generated in central node 104 is sent to all end nodes 106A-106N, and each end node 106A-106N uses a frequency locked loop to lock the central frequency (or laser frequency) to one of the reference tones (e.g., with megahertz (MHz) level accuracy). Moreover, the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal are tuned in the apparatus 102, which is similar to tuning the residual optical carriers. Therefore, the downlink frequency comb signal globally coordinates reference tone, residual optical carrier, and the periodic optical filter unit 112. Further, the apparatus 102 of the present disclosure suppress (or filter) the residual optical carriers efficiently with the alignment approach.

[0062] In accordance with an embodiment, the periodic optical filter unit 112 has a free spectral range close to a channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network (PON). In an example, the periodic optical filter 112 has a free spectral range equal to the channel spacing of the referenced passive optical network (PON), where the free spectral range may have deviations due to the limited manufacturing or control accuracy. Moreover, as the free spectral range is close to the channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network thus, the periodic optical filter unit 112 in the central node 104 suppresses all residual optical carriers simultaneously. Moreover, the alignment between the downlink frequency comb signal and the periodic optical filter unit 112 is controlled based on a monitored, filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal in comparison to the conventional approach where the combined uplink signal is used.

[0063] In accordance with an embodiment, the periodic optical filter unit 112 comprises a first optical filter 122 and a second optical filter 124, identical to the first optical filter 122, with the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal passing through the first optical filter 122 and the combined uplink signal passing through the second optical filter 124. In other words, two identical optical filters, such as the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124, are included by the periodic optical filter unit 112, as further shown and described in FIG.3A. In an implementation, the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124 are identical with respect to material, size, propagation loss, temperature and so on as a result of which they have same filter properties, and they behave similarly when a same control parameter (such as temperature variation) is applied. Moreover, the second optical filter 124 is used by the periodic optical filter unit 112 to pass (and filter) the combined uplink signal of each end node 106A-106N, and the first optical filter 122 is used by the periodic optical filter unit 112 to pass (and filter) the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal of the central node 104. In other words, a dedicated optical filter (or a dedicated direction / path), such as the second optical filter 124 of the periodic optical filter unit 112 (or a single optical filter) is used to filter (or suppress) the combined uplink signal. Further, another identical optical filter, such as the first optical filter 122 of the periodic optical filter unit 112 is dedicated to monitor the downlink frequency comb signal power for alignment control. Beneficially, the spectral alignment of the downlink frequency comb signal to the periodic optical filter unit 112 does not affect the uplink communication that already exists. This is because the alignment control and filter process of the combined uplink signal are separated in different filters (or different direction / paths) of the single filter, such as the periodic optical filter unit 112. Further, such a tuning algorithm is based on the minimized output power of the first optical filter 122. Therefore, a desired and suitable alignment is achieved at minimum output power and with a reduced cost.

[0064] In accordance with an embodiment, each of the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124 comprises one of a microring resonator 130A and 130B, a Fabry-Perot etalon 132A and 132B, a multi-cavity etalon 134A and 134B, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136A and 136B. In this implementation, one of the microring resonator 130A, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, the multi-cavity etalon 134A, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136A is used by the first optical filter 122 to filter the downlink frequency comb signal at the central node 104. Similarly, one of the microring resonator 130B, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132B, the multi-cavity etalon 134B, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136B is used by the second optical filter 124 to filter the combined uplink signal at the central node 104. As a result, all the residual optical carriers of each end node 106A-106N are suppressed simultaneously. Therefore, the apparatus 102 of the present disclosure solves the residual optical carrier problems with improved performance in comparison to the conventional approach. In an example, the microring resonator 130A (or micro-ring filter) may consist of N (e.g., N=1) cascaded rings with through port and / or drop port, and the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A (F-P etalon filter) consists of two mirrors and / or lens. Functionally the microring resonator 130A through port and drop port correspond to the reflectance and transmittance of the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, respectively.

[0065] In accordance with an embodiment, the periodic optical filter unit 112 comprises an optical filter 126 with multiple optical ports 128A-128N wherein the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal passes in one direction or path of the optical filter 126 and the combined uplink signal passes in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In other words, the optical filter 126 with multiple optical ports 128A-128N is included by the periodic optical filter unit 112, as further shown and described in FIG.3B. In an example, the optical filter 126 is used to tune the combined uplink signal frequency (or laser frequency) or the periodic optical filter unit 112. In such a case, the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is passed in one direction or path of the optical filter 126, and the combined uplink signal is passed in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In other words, the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is monitored in one direction of the optical filter 126, and the combined uplink signal is filtered (or suppressed) in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In an implementation, the optical filter 126 must be symmetrical regarding filter properties, including the frequency response, so the features of the optical filter 126 are identical in opposite directions or different paths. Beneficially, such tuning / control algorithm of the optical filter 126 minimizes the output power of the control (or the control units) direction / path. Beneficially, the output power of the downlink frequency comb signal is further considered to tune either the optical filter 126 or the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0066] In accordance with an embodiment, the optical filter 126 comprises one of a microring resonator 130C, a Fabry-Perot etalon 132C, a multi-cavity etalon 134C, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136C. In this implementation, one of the microring resonator 130B, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132C, the multi-cavity etalon 134C, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136C is used by the optical filter 126 to filter the downlink frequency comb signal as well as the combined uplink signal at the central node 104. As a result, all the residual optical carriers of each end node 106A-106N are suppressed simultaneously. Further, apparatus 102 of the present disclosure solves the residual optical carrier problems with much-improved performance.

[0067] In accordance with an embodiment, the control unit 114 comprises a photodiode, PD, 138 and is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal to minimize the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, the downlink frequency comb signal as broadcasted by the central node transmitter 108 is initially received by the photodiode 138 of the control unit 114, such as to monitor the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, the downlink frequency comb signal is applied to the first optical filter 122, whose output is monitored by the photodiode 138 of the control unit 114. Thereafter, based on the output of the photodiode 138, the control unit 114 aligns the periodic optical filter unit 112 spectrally with the downlink frequency comb signal and minimizes the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. Beneficially in comparison with the conventional approach, the control unit 114 of the present disclosure is easy to execute, as it relies on the downlink frequency comb signal and not on the combined uplink signal.

[0068] In accordance with an embodiment, the control unit 114 further comprises one of a thermo-electronic controller, TEC 140, a phase modulator 142, an electro-optic modulator 144, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, an intra-cavity etalon 146. In an example, the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is applied to one of the thermo-electronic controller 140, the phase modulator 142, the electro-optic modulator 144, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, or the intra-cavity etalon 146, such as to tune either the first optical filter 122 (and the second optical filter 124 ) or the downlink frequency comb signal (or optical frequency comb generator). Beneficially, based on the tuning of the downlink frequency comb signal, the control unit 114 is configured to minimize / maximize the residual optical carriers at the output of the periodic optical filter unit 112.

[0069] In accordance with an embodiment, the control unit 114 is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal by means of tuning a central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an implementation, spectral alignment between the residual carriers of the combined uplink signal and transmission minima of the periodic optical filter unit 112 is achieved by tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal is executed periodically to track the drift caused by environmental changes (e.g., temperature). Further, a suitable alignment between the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal leads to a minimum detected output power of the control unit 114. In another example, tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal causes variation in a normalized output power of the periodic optical filter unit 112 and also on an extinction ratio (ER). As a result, the higher the extinction ratio of the periodic optical filter unit 112, the more distinguishable the output power at different central frequencies.

[0070] In accordance with an embodiment, the control unit 114 is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the frequency comb signal by means of tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal. By virtue of tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal, deviation in the downlink frequency comb signal is minimized.

[0071] In accordance with an embodiment, the control unit 114 is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the frequency comb signal by means of tuning a central frequency of the periodic optical filter unit 112. In this implementation, tuning the central frequency of the periodic optical filter unit 112 minimizes / maximizes the output power of the periodic optical filter unit 112 (or the first optical filter 122 ).

[0072] Therefore, the apparatus 102 of the present disclosure provides an improved and novel approach to suppress the residual optical carriers efficiently with the periodic optical filter unit 112. Moreover, the control unit 114 of the apparatus 102 provides an improved approach to align the downlink frequency comb signal spectrally with the periodic optical filter unit 112. Moreover, the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal are tuned in the apparatus 102, which is similar to tunning of the residual optical carriers, which further globally coordinate reference tone (or frequency), residual optical carrier, and the periodic optical filter unit 112. Beneficially, the combined uplink signal of each end node 106A-106N has a dedicated gap between residual optical carriers and a sideband of the combined uplink signal to tolerate the frequency offset, and a filter profile of the periodic optical filter unit 112 does not make much difference with frequency offset.

[0073] FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates various exemplary components of a central node, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A. With reference to FIG. 1B, there is shown the central node 104 that includes a first control circuitry 148, a first memory 150, the central node transmitter 108, and the single coherent receiver 110.

[0074] The first control circuitry 148 is configured to broadcast the downlink frequency comb signal from the central node transmitter 108 of the central node 104 to each end node 106A-106N. In an implementation, the first control circuitry 148 may be a general-purpose processor. Examples of the first control circuitry 148 include, but is not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, a reduced instruction set (RISC) processor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a state machine, a data processing unit, and other processors or circuits. It will be appreciated that the operations performed at the central node transmitter 108 are potentially performed by the first control circuitry 148 of the central node 104.

[0075] The first memory 150 includes suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to store the data received from the end nodes 106A-106N and also store the instructions executable by the first control circuitry 148. Examples of implementation of the first memory 150 may include, but are not limited to, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Flash memory, Solid-State Drive (SSD), or CPU cache memory.

[0076] FIG. 1C is a block diagram that illustrates various exemplary components of an end node, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1C is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A. With reference to FIG. 1C, there is shown a second control circuitry 152, an intensity-modulated transmitter 154, a second memory 156, the end node 106A that includes the intensity-modulated transmitter 108A.

[0077] The second control circuitry 152 is configured to receive the downlink frequency comb signal from the central node transmitter 108 of the central node 104. In an implementation, the second control circuitry 152 may be a general-purpose processor. Examples of the second control circuitry 152 include, but are not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, a reduced instruction set (RISC) processor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a state machine, a data processing unit, and other processors or circuits. It will be appreciated that the operations performed at the intensity-modulated transmitter 108A are potentially performed by the second control circuitry 152 of the end node 106A. Optionally, the end node 106A may further include a memory for storage purposes (not shown).

[0078] The intensity-modulated transmitter 154 is an optical transmitter, which includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to transmit information in the form of an optical signal through optical links, such as the end node optical links 120A-120N. The intensity-modulated transmitter 154 may also be referred to as an optical module. Examples of the intensity-modulated transmitter 154 include but are not limited to a transmitter, an optical transmitter, or a fiber optic transmitter, and the like.

[0079] The second memory 156 includes suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to store the data received from the central nodes 104 and also store the instructions executable by the second control circuitry 152. Examples of implementation of the second memory 156 may include, but are not limited to, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Flash memory, Solid-State Drive (SSD), or CPU cache memory.

[0080] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network (PON) with point to multi-point (P2MP) topology, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is described in conjunction with elements from FIG. 1A. With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a method 200. The method 200 includes steps 202 to 208.

[0081] In another aspect the present disclosure provides a method 200 of carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network, PON, with point to multi-point, P2MP, topology comprising a central node 104 and end nodes 106A-106N, where each end node 106A-106N is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter 108, and the central node 104 comprises a single coherent receiver 110 for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprises the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes 106A-106N, the method comprising: separating a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by periodic optical filtering the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filtering with the frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0082] The method 200 of carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network (PON) with point to multi-point (P2MP) topology comprising a central node 104 and end nodes 106A-106N, where each end node 106A-106N is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter 108, and the central node 104 comprises a single coherent receiver 110 for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the optical uplink signals from the end nodes 106A-106N. In other words, the method 200 comprises, broadcasting the downlink frequency comb signal with reference tones by the central node transmitter 108 of the central node 104. The method 200 further comprises, generating the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal (e.g., via uplink laser source) with a central frequency by each end node 106A-106N. Thereafter, each end node 106A-106N locks the central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal, such as to transmit the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal at the central frequency to the central node 104. Thereafter, the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals generated by the end nodes 106A-106N, such as the combined uplink signal is further detected (or received) by the single coherent receiver 110 of the central node 104.

[0083] At step 202, the method 200 comprises separating a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, the downlink frequency comb signal generated at a time of starting-up by the central node 104 (or optical line terminals (OLT) module) is analyzed under test. Further, the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is separated. For example, a reference tone is separated from the downlink frequency comb signal to observe the behavior of the combined uplink signal. Beneficially, the method 200 facilitates a centralized control by analyzing the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0084] At step 204, the method 200 comprises suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by periodic optical filtering of the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal. In an example, the combined uplink signal detected by the single coherent receiver 110 inherently contains large residual optical carriers at its respective transmission frequency. In another example, the combined uplink signal, as well as the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, are further received by the periodic optical filtering. Thereafter, the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, such as a filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is used by the periodic optical filtering to suppress the residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal of the end nodes 106A-106N. Beneficially, in comparison with the conventional approach, the method 200 provides a simple (i.e., not complex) centralized control within the central node 104, as the residual optical carriers of each end node 106A-106N are suppressed simultaneously by the periodic optical filtering.

[0085] At step 206, the method 200 comprises monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, each end node 106A-106N might be switched on / off occasionally (e.g., upon registration / de-registration), which may lead to an issue in the reliability of the alignment process. Beneficially, the method 200 comprises, monitoring the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, and not of the combined uplink signal, as the downlink frequency comb signal keeps all reference tones in on stage all the time. In an example, the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal has more than -40 decibel-milliwatts (dBm) power.

[0086] At step 208, the method 200 comprises spectrally aligning the periodic optical filtering with the frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In other words, the method 200 comprises monitoring the downlink frequency comb signal and providing a feedback (e.g., to the control unit 114 ). The feedback is further used by the method 200 for spectrally aligning the downlink frequency comb signal with the periodic optical filtering (or optical filter) via tuning either the downlink frequency comb signal (e.g., wavelength) or the periodic optical filter filtering (e.g., via temperature). Beneficially, in comparison with the conventional approaches, the method 200 of the present disclosure providing an improved and a novel approach for aligning the downlink frequency comb signal spectrally with the periodic optical filtering. In an example, spectral alignment is used to minimize the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. In another example, the spectral alignment between the downlink frequency comb signal and the periodic optical filtering is equivalent to the alignment between the combined uplink signal and the periodic optical filtering with negligible frequency offset (e.g., few megahertz (MHz). Therefore, the filter profile of the periodic optical filtering does not get affected with such frequency offset, and the combined uplink signal of each end node 106A-106N have a dedicated gap between residual optical carriers and combined uplink signal sideband to tolerate such frequency offset.

[0087] In accordance with an embodiment, the periodic optical filtering has a free spectral range close to a channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network (PON). As the free spectral range close to a channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network thus, the periodic optical filtering (e.g., using the periodic optical filter unit 112 ) in the central node 104 suppresses all residual optical carriers simultaneously. Moreover, the alignment between the downlink frequency comb signal and periodic optical filtering is controlled based on monitoring the filtered portion of the transmitted downlink comb signal.

[0088] In accordance with an embodiment, the periodic optical filtering comprises: passing the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal through a first optical filter 122, and passing the combined uplink signal through a second optical filter 124, identical to the first optical filter 122. In other words, two identical optical filters, such as the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124, are included by the periodic optical filtering. In an implementation, the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124 are identical with respect to a material, size, propagation loss, temperature and so on as a result of which they have the same filter properties, and they behave similarly when a same control parameter (such as temperature variation) applied. Moreover, the second optical filter 124 is used by the periodic optical filtering for passing (and filtering) the combined uplink signal of each end node 106A-106N, and the first optical filter 122 is used for passing (and filtering) the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal of the central node 104. In other words, a dedicated optical filtering (or a dedicated direction / path) is used for passing the combined uplink signal, such as using the second optical filter 124 of the periodic optical filtering (or a single optical filter). Further, another identical optical filter, such as the first optical filter 122 of the periodic optical filtering is dedicated to monitoring the downlink frequency comb signal power for alignment control. Beneficially, the spectral alignment of the downlink frequency comb signal to the periodic optical filtering does not affect the uplink communication that already exists. This is because the alignment control and filtering process of the combined uplink signal process is separated in different filters (or different direction / paths) of the single filter, such as the periodic optical filtering. Further, such tuning algorithm is based on the minimized output power of the first optical filter 122, and the suitable alignment is achieved at minimum output power, with reduced cost.

[0089] In accordance with an embodiment, each of the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124 comprises one of a microring resonator 130A and 130B, a Fabry-Perot etalon 132A and 132B, a multi-cavity etalon 134A and 134B, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136A and 136B. In this implementation, one of the microring resonator 130A, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, the multi-cavity etalon 134A, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136A is used by the first optical filter 122 for filtering the downlink frequency comb signal at the central node 104. Similarly, one of the microring resonator 130B, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132B, the multi-cavity etalon 134B, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136B is used by the second optical filter 124 for filtering the combined uplink signal at the central node 104. As a result, all the residual optical carriers of each end node 106A-106N are suppressed simultaneously. Therefore, the method 200 of the present disclosure solves the residual optical carrier problems with a satisfactory level and improved performance in comparison to conventional methods. In an example, the microring resonator 130A (or micro-ring filter) may consist of N (e.g., N=1) cascaded rings with through port and / or drop port, and the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A (F-P etalon filter) consists of two mirrors and / or lens. Functionally the microring resonator 130A through port and drop port correspond to the reflectance and transmittance of the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, respectively.

[0090] In accordance with an embodiment, the periodic optical filtering comprises passing the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal in one direction or path of an optical filter 126 with multiple optical ports 128A-128N and passing the combined uplink signal in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In an example, the periodic optical filtering including the optical filter 126 with multiple optical ports 128A-128N, such as the optical filter 126 is used for tuning the combined uplink signal frequency (or laser frequency) or the periodic optical filtering. In such a case, the method 200 comprises, passing the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal in one direction or path of the optical filter 126, and passing the combined uplink signal in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In other words, the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is monitored in one direction or path of the optical filter 126, and the combined uplink signal is filtered (or suppressed) in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In an implementation, the optical filter 126 must be symmetrical regarding filter properties, including the frequency response, so the features of the optical filter 126 are identical in opposite directions (or different paths). Beneficially, such tuning / control algorithm of the optical filter 126 minimizing the output power of the control direction / path. Beneficially, the output power of the downlink frequency comb signal is further considered to tune either the optical filter 126 or the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0091] In accordance with an embodiment, the optical filter 126 comprises one of a microring resonator 130C, a Fabry-Perot etalon 132C, a multi-cavity etalon 134C, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136C. In this implementation, the method 200 comprises, using one of the microring resonator 130C, the Fabry-Perot etalon 132C, the multi-cavity etalon 134C, and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136C for filtering of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal at the central node 104. As a result, all the residual optical carriers of each end node 106A-106N are suppressed simultaneously. Further, method 200 of the present disclosure is solving the residual optical carrier problems with much-improved performance.

[0092] In accordance with an embodiment, the monitoring of the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal is conducted by a control unit 114 comprising a photodiode, PD, 138, and the spectral aligning of the periodic optical filtering with the frequency comb signal comprises minimizing the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal by the control unit 114 through controlling one of a thermo-electronic controller, TEC 140, a phase modulator 142, an electro-optic modulator 144, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, and an intra-cavity etalon 146. In an example, the downlink frequency comb signal as broadcasted by the central node transmitter 108 is initially received by the photodiode 138 of the control unit 114, such as for monitoring the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal. Thereafter, the result of a monitor signal from the control unit 114 is applied to one of the thermo-electronic controller 140, the phase modulator 142, the electro-optic modulator 144, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, or the intra-cavity etalon 146. In an example, the power of the downlink frequency comb signal is applied to the first optical filter 122, whose output is monitored by the photodiode 138 of the control unit 114, and a feedback is used to tune either the first optical filter 122 (and the second optical filter 124 ) or the downlink frequency comb signal (or optical frequency comb generator). Beneficially in comparison with the conventional approach, the control unit 114 of the present disclosure is easy to execute, as it relies on the downlink frequency comb signal and not on the combined uplink signal. Moreover, the control unit 114 is beneficial to minimize / maximize the residual optical carriers at the output of the periodic optical filtering.

[0093] In accordance with an embodiment, the spectral aligning of the periodic optical filtering with the downlink frequency comb signal comprises tuning a central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an implementation, spectral alignment between the residual carriers of the combined uplink signal and a transmission minima of the periodic optical filtering is achieved by tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal is executed periodically to track the drift caused by environmental changes (e.g., temperature). Further, the suitable alignment between the periodic optical filtering with the downlink frequency comb signal leads to a minimum detected output power of the control unit 114. In another example, tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal causes variation in a normalized output power of the periodic optical filtering and also on an extinction ratio (ER). As a result, the higher the extinction ratio of the periodic optical filtering, the more distinguishable the output power at different central frequencies.

[0094] In accordance with an embodiment, the spectral aligning of the periodic optical filtering with the frequency comb signal comprises tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal. By virtue of tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal, deviation in the downlink frequency comb signal is minimized.

[0095] In accordance with an embodiment, the spectral aligning of the periodic optical filtering with the frequency comb signal comprises tuning a central frequency of the periodic optical filtering. In this implementation, tuning the central frequency of the periodic optical filtering minimizes / maximizes the output power of the periodic optical filtering (or the first optical filter 122 ).

[0096] Therefore, the method 200 of the present disclosure comprises providing an improved and novel approach for suppressing the residual optical carriers efficiently with the periodic optical filtering. The method 200 further comprises providing an improved approach for aligning the downlink frequency comb signal spectrally with the periodic optical filtering. Moreover, the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal are tuned in the method 200, which is similar to tunning the residual optical carriers, which further globally coordinate reference tone (or frequency), residual optical carrier, and the periodic optical filtering. Beneficially, the combined uplink signal has a dedicated gap between residual optical carriers and a sideband of the combined uplink signal to tolerate the frequency offset. In addition, the filter profile of the periodic optical filtering does not make much difference with frequency offset.

[0097] The steps 202, 204, 206, and 208 are only illustrative, and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.

[0098] FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3A is described in conjunction with elements from FIG. 1A. With reference to FIG. 3A a block diagram 300A that comprises the central node 104. The central node 104 further includes an optical frequency comb generator (OFCG) 302, a frequency comb 302A, a single reference frequency 302B, a semiconductor amplifier (SOA) 304, a polarization scrambler 306, a modulator (Mod) 308, a low-speed data signal signal 310, an optical filter 312, a control 314, a local oscillator 316, an integrated coherent receiver (ICR) 318, an analog to digital converter (ADC) 320, and a digital signal processing (DSP) 322. There is further shown a thermo-electronic controller (TEC) / control 324, and an uplink signal 326. There is shown a first enlarged view 328 of the optical filter 312, and the control 314. There is further shown a second enlarged view 330 of the optical filter 312, and the control 314.

[0099] The optical frequency comb generator (OFCG) 302 is also referred to as a downlink laser source (or a comb frequency laser). The optical frequency comb generator 302 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to generate downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, the optical frequency comb generator 302 generates the downlink frequency comb signal with the frequency comb 302A, which includes a plurality of frequency tones. In another example, the optical frequency comb generator 302 generates the downlink frequency comb signal with the single reference frequency 302B, which includes a single frequency tone.

[0100] The semiconductor amplifier (SOA) 304 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to amplify the downlink frequency comb signal. The semiconductor amplifier (SOA) 304 may also be referred to as an optical amplifier.

[0101] The polarization scrambler 306 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to vary a state of polarization (SOP) of the downlink frequency comb signal. The polarization scrambler 306 may also be referred to as a polarization controller.

[0102] The modulator 308 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to modulate the downlink frequency comb signal by the low-speed data signal 310. The low-speed data signal 310 is also referred to as modulating signal. The low-speed data signal 310 is used to indicate a frequency assigned to each end node 106A-106N.

[0103] The optical filter (OF) 312 corresponds to the periodic optical filter unit 112 of FIG. 1A. The optical filter 312 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured for filtering a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the uplink signal 326 to suppress residual optical carriers of the end nodes 106A-106N in the uplink signal 326.

[0104] The control 314 corresponds to the control unit 114 of FIG.1A. The control 314 include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured for monitoring the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and spectrally aligning the optical filter 312 with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0105] The local oscillator 316 includes suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to change the frequency of a signal, such as a reference signal. The local oscillator 316 is used with the integrated coherent receiver 318.

[0106] The integrated coherent receiver 318 corresponds to the single coherent receiver 110 of FIG. 1A. The integrated coherent receiver 318 is configured to receive and detect signals from the end nodes 106A-106N. The integrated coherent receiver 318 detects information in the form of an optical signal (e.g., through the central node optical link 118 ) and converts the optical signal into an electric signal. The integrated coherent receiver 318 may also be referred to as an optical module. Examples of the integrated coherent receiver 318 include, but are not limited to, a receiver, an optical receiver, or a fiber optic receiver, and the like.

[0107] The analog to digital converter 320 includes a suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to convert the analog signal into digital form. The digital signal processing 322 includes a suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to measure, filter (or compress) the signal received from the analog to digital converter 320.

[0108] The TEC / control 324 includes a suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to control the wavelength of an optical signal by tuning the temperature of the respective optical device. In an example, the TEC / control 324 may also be referred to as a thermo electrical cooler and current control unit.

[0109] The uplink signal 326 is an optical signal. The uplink signal 326 comprises the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes 106A-106N, and the uplink signal 326 may also be referred to as the combined uplink signal.

[0110] In an example, the optical frequency comb generator 302 of the central node 104 generates the downlink frequency comb signal (e.g., with the frequency comb 302A ). Thereafter, the downlink frequency comb signal received from the optical frequency comb generator 302 is passed through the semiconductor optical amplifier 304 to process and amplify the downlink frequency comb signal. Further, the downlink frequency comb signal is passed through the polarization scrambler 306, for example, to vary a state of polarization of the downlink frequency comb signal. Therefore, the polarization scrambler 306 is used to mitigate polarization-related impairments of the downlink frequency comb signal. Optionally, the downlink frequency comb signal may be modulated by the low-speed data signal 310, where modulation is performed using the modulator 308 of the central node 104. By virtue of modulating the downlink frequency comb signal by the low-speed data signal 310, there will be no need to demultiplex the reference tones of the downlink frequency comb signal. This is because, all the reference tones can be modulated simultaneously by the same low-speed data signal 310, which is broadcasted to each end node 106A-106N (i.e., end users).

[0111] Therefore, the central node 104 is capable of generating the downlink frequency comb signal with different frequency tones. Thereafter, the optical filter 312 is arranged, such as to receive the downlink frequency comb signal along with the output of the control 314 and the modulator 308. The optical filter 312 is configured to filter a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the uplink signal 326 to suppress the residual optical carriers of the end nodes 106A-106N in the uplink signal 326. Moreover, the control 314 monitors the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, such as to spectrally align the optical filter 312 with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0112] In the FIG. 3A there are two implementations shows. A first implementation is described in the first enlarged view 328, and a second implementation is described in the second enlarged view 330.

[0113] In an implementation, two identical optical filters (e.g., single-stage micro ring filters), such as the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124, are included by the optical filter 312. In an example, the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124 are identical in terms of a material, size, propagation loss, temperature and so on so that they have the same filter properties and they behave similarly when the same control parameter (such as temperature variation) is applied to them. Moreover, the second optical filter 124 is used to filter the uplink signal 326 of each end node 106A-106N, and the first optical filter 122 is used to filter the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal as generated by the optical frequency comb generator 302. In an example, the TEC / control 324 is configured to tune the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124, as shown in the first enlarged view 328. In such a case, the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 is applied to the first optical filter 122, while the uplink signal 326 is applied to the second optical filter 124. Moreover, the output of the first optical filter 122 is further received by the TEC / control 324, which is configured to tune the optical filter 312 based on the output of the first optical filter 122 and the second optical filter 124.

[0114] In another example, the TEC / control 324 is configured to tune the optical frequency comb generator 302 (or a laser) based on the output of the first optical filter 122, as shown in the second enlarged view 330. As an alternative, one of the phase modulator 142, the electro-optic modulator 144, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, and the intra-cavity etalon 146 can be used to tune the optical frequency comb generator 302 (or a laser). Beneficially, the spectral alignment of the optical frequency comb generator 302 to the optical filter 312 does not affect the uplink communication that already exists because the alignment control and filter process of the uplink signal 326 are separated in different filters (or different direction / paths) of the single filter, such as the optical filter 312. Further, the tuning algorithm is based on the minimized output power of the first optical filter 122, and a suitable alignment is achieved at minimum output power with reduced cost.

[0115] FIG. 3B is a block diagram of an apparatus for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network with point to multi-point topology, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3B is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A and 3A. With reference to FIG. 3B, there is shown the optical filter 126, circulators 332A and 332B, and isolators 334A and 334B. There is shown enlarged views 336, 338, 340 and 342 of the optical filter 312, and the control 314.

[0116] The circulators 332A and 332B are micro-optic devices and can be used with the end node 106A-106N. The isolators 334A and 334B are non-reciprocal devices that allows optical signal (or light) to pass along a fiber in one direction and offer a very high attenuation in an opposite direction.

[0117] In an implementation, the optical filter 126 (e.g., a single-stage micro ring filter) is included by the optical filter 312 (or the periodic optical filter unit 112 ). In an example, the uplink signal 326 always tracks the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 (or the downlink frequency comb signal) (e.g., via a frequency lock loop). Thus, the optical filter 126 is used to indirectly tune the uplink signal 326 (or laser frequency) via tuning the optical frequency comb generator 302 (or the downlink frequency comb signal) or tune the optical filter 312. Alternatively, the optical filter 126 is used to tune either the downlink frequency comb signal or the optical filter 312. In such a case, the portion of the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 (or the downlink frequency comb signal) is passed in one direction or path of the optical filter 126, and the uplink signal 326 is passed in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In other words, the portion of the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 is monitored in one direction or path of the optical filter 126, and the uplink signal 326 is filtered (or suppressed) in another direction or path of the optical filter 126. In an implementation, the optical filter 126 is symmetrical regarding filter properties, including the frequency response, so the features of the optical filter 126 are identical in opposite directions (or different paths).

[0118] In an example, the optical filter 126 has a single-ring configuration that may include the circulators 332A and 332B or the isolators 334A and 334B. In the case of the circulators 332A and 332B, the uplink signal 326 is applied to the circulator 332A, and the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 is applied to the circulator 332B, as shown by the enlarged view 336. Moreover, the output of the circulator 332A is further received by the photodiode 138. Thereafter, based on the output of the photodiode 138, the TEC / control 324 is configured to control the optical filter 126. As a result, the optical filter 126 is configured to tune the optical filter 312.

[0119] In a former case, where isolators 334A and 334B are used in the optical filter 126, the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 is applied to the isolator 334A, and the uplink signal 326 is applied to the isolator 334B. Moreover, the output of the isolator 334A is further received by the photodiode 138, as shown by the enlarged view 338. Thereafter, based on the output of the photodiode 138, the TEC / control 324 is configured to control the optical filter 126. As a result, the optical filter 126 is configured to tune the optical filter 312.

[0120] In another example, the optical filter 126 comprises the isolators 334A and 334B, wherein the uplink signal 326 is applied to the isolator 334A, and the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 is applied to the isolator 334B, as shown by the enlarged view 340. Moreover, the output of the isolator 334B is further received by the photodiode 138. Thereafter, based on the output of the photodiode 138, the TEC / control 324 is configured to tune the optical frequency comb generator 302. As an alternative, one of the phase modulator 142, the electro-optic modulator 144, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, and the intra-cavity etalon 146 can be used to tune the optical frequency comb generator 302.

[0121] In a yet another case, where the circulators 332A and 332B are used in the optical filter 126, the uplink signal 326 is applied to the circulator 332A, and the output of the optical frequency comb generator 302 is applied to the circulator 332B, as shown by the enlarged view 342. Moreover, the output of the circulator 332A is further received by the photodiode 138. Thereafter, based on the output of the photodiode 138, the TEC / control 324 is configured to tune the optical frequency comb generator 302. As an alternative, one of the phase modulator 142, the electro-optic modulator 144, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer 136D, and the intra-cavity etalon 146 can be used to tune the optical frequency comb generator 302. Beneficially, the tuning / control algorithm of the optical filter 126 minimizes the output power of the control direction / path. In addition, based on the monitored power of the optical frequency comb generator 302, tuning of either the optical filter 126 or the optical frequency comb generator 302 itself can be executed.

[0122] FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a control algorithm to stabilize a thermo-electronic controller, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A. With reference to FIG. 4A, there is shown a flowchart of a control algorithm 400A to minimum output power of a downlink frequency comb signal. The control algorithm 400A is executed by the control unit 114 of FIG. 1A. The control algorithm 400A includes operations 402 to 414.

[0123] At operation 402, the control algorithm 400A comprises initializing the photodiode 138 with an initial power (e.g., P min = Inf) of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0124] At operation 404, the control algorithm 400A comprises, varying temperature of the thermo-electronic controller 140 by the control unit 114.

[0125] At operation 406, the control algorithm 400A comprises measuring the output power value (e.g., P i , where i = 0,1,2,...) of the photodiode 138 by the control unit 114. In an example, if i>0, then the temperature (e.g., k= (P i -P i-1 ) / P i ) of the thermo-electronic controller 140 is calculated using the output power value of the photodiode. At operation 406, the output power value of the photodiode 138 is further used to calculate an average output value (e.g., ΔP= (P i -P min ) / P i ).

[0126] At operation 408, the control algorithm 400A comprises comparing if the minimum power value (P min ) of the photodiode 138 is greater than the output power value (P i ) of the photodiode 138. If the minimum power value (P min ) is greater than the output power value (P i ), then the control algorithm 400A moves to operation 410, otherwise moves directly to operation 412.

[0127] At operation 410, the control algorithm 400A comprises setting the minimum power value (P min ) of the photodiode 138 equal to the output power value (P i ) of the photodiode 138.

[0128] At operation 412, the control algorithm 400A comprises comparing if mode value of the temperature (|k|) is less than or equal to a threshold value of temperature (kth). At operation 412, the control algorithm 400A further comprises comparing if mode value of the average power (|ΔP|) is less than or equal to a threshold value of the average power (ΔPth). If result of the operation 412 is true, the control algorithm 400A moves to operation 414, otherwise move back to the operation 404.

[0129] At operation 414, the control algorithm 400A comprises stabilizing the thermo-electronic controller 140 by the control unit 114. Further, stabilizing the thermo-electronic controller 140 is beneficial to spectrally align the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal and minimize the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

[0130] FIG. 4B is a graphical representation that illustrates a relationship between a center frequency tunning of a downlink frequency comb signal and a normalized output power of a periodic optical filter unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A, 3A, and 3B. With reference to FIG. 4B, there is shown a graphical representation 400B that represents the relationship between a center frequency tunning of the downlink frequency comb signal and a normalized output power of the periodic optical filter unit 112.

[0131] The graphical representation 400B represents center frequency tunning in gigahertz (GHz) of the downlink frequency comb signal on the X-axis 416 and normalized output power in decibel (dB) of the periodic optical filter unit 112 on the Y-axis 418. In the graphical representation 400B, lines 420, 422, and 424 illustrate an extinction ratio (ER) of the periodic optical filter unit 112. In particular, the line 420 illustrates the extinction ratio (ER) of value 7 decibel, the line 422 illustrates the extinction ratio (ER) of 13.5 decibel, and the line 424 illustrates the extinction ratio (ER) of 26 decibel for periodic optical filter unit 112.

[0132] In an implementation, spectral alignment between the residual optical carriers of the combined uplink signal and transmission minima of the periodic optical filter unit 112 is achieved by tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal. In an example, tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal is executed periodically to track the drift caused by environmental changes (e.g., temperature). Further, the perfect alignment between the periodic optical filter unit 112 with the downlink frequency comb signal leads to a minimum detected output power of the control unit 114. In another example, tuning the central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal causes variation in the normalized output power of the periodic optical filter unit 112 and also on the extinction ratio. As a result, the higher the extinction ratio of the periodic optical filter unit 112, the more distinguishable the output power at different central frequencies, as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0133] FIG. 5A is an illustration that depicts multi-stage micro ring filters, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5A is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A. With reference to FIG. 5A, there is shown an illustration 500A of multi-stage micro ring filters 502A and 502B. The multi-stage micro ring filter 502A includes rings 504A-504N, and the multi-stage micro ring filter 502B includes the rings 506A-506N.

[0134] The multi-stage micro ring filters 502A and 502B include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and / or code that is configured to perform filtering operation.

[0135] In an implementation, the multi-stage micro ring filters 502A and 502B may consist of N cascaded rings with through port and / or drop port. In an example, the multi-stage micro ring filter 502A consists of N number of rings 504A-504N cascaded with through port, and the multi-stage micro ring filter 502B consists of N number of rings 506A-506N cascaded with drop port. In another example, the multi-stage micro ring filter 502A consists of N number of rings 504A-504N cascaded with drop port, and the multi-stage micro ring filter 502B consists of N number of rings 506A-506N cascaded with through port.

[0136] FIG. 5B is an illustration that depicts a Fabry-Perot etalon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1A and 5A. With reference to FIG. 5B, there is shown an illustration 500B of the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A that includes mirrors 508 and 510, an input 512, reflectance beams 514A-514N, 516A, and 516B, and transmittance beams 518A-518N, 520A-520N.

[0137] The mirror 508 and the mirror 510 may also be referred to as lenses that are configured to receive the input 512 (e.g., light) and produce the reflectance beams 514A-514N, 516A, and 516B, and the transmittance beams 518A-518N, 520A-520N. In an example, the reflectance beams 514A-514N, 516A, and 516B corresponds to the reflected rays of the input 512, and the transmittance beams 518A-518N, 520A-520N corresponds to the transmitted rays of the input 512. In another example, functionally, the multi-stage micro ring filters 502A and 502B of the through port and drop port correspond to the reflectance beams 514A-514N, 516A, and 516B, and transmittance beams 518A-518N, 520A-520N of the Fabry-Perot etalon 132A, respectively.

Claims

1. An apparatus (102) for carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network, PON, with point to multi-point, P2MP, topology comprising a central node (104) and end nodes (106A-106N), where each end node (106A-106N) is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and to lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter (108), and the central node (104) comprises a single coherent receiver (110) for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical uplink signals from the end nodes (106A-106N), the apparatus (102) configured to be arranged in the central node (104) and comprising: a periodic optical filter unit (112) configured for suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by filtering a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, and a control unit (114) configured for monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit (112) with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

2. The apparatus (102) of claim 1, wherein the periodic optical filter unit (112) has a free spectral range close to a channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network, PON.

3. The apparatus (102) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the periodic optical filter unit (112) comprises a first optical filter (122) and a second optical filter (124), identical to the first optical filter (122), with the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal passing through the first optical filter (122) and the combined uplink signal passing through the second optical filter (124).

4. The apparatus (102) of claim 3, wherein each of the first optical filter (122) and the second optical filter (124) comprises one of a microring resonator (130A and 130B), a Fabry-Perot etalon (132A and 132B), a multi-cavity etalon (134A and 134B), and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (136A and 136B).

5. The apparatus (102) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the periodic optical filter unit (112) comprises a optical filter (126) with multiple optical ports (128A-128N) wherein the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal passes in one direction or path of the optical filter (126) and the combined uplink signal passes in another direction or path of the optical filter (126).

6. The apparatus (102) of claim 5, wherein the optical filter (126) comprises one of a microring resonator (130C), a Fabry-Perot etalon (132C), a multi-cavity etalon (134C), and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (136C).

7. The apparatus (102) of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit (114) comprises a photodiode, PD, (138) and is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit (112) with the downlink frequency comb signal to minimize the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

8. The apparatus (102) of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit (114) further comprises a thermo-electronic controller, TEC (140), a phase modulator (142), an electro-optic modulator (144), a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (136D), an intra-cavity etalon (146).

9. The apparatus (102) of claim 7, wherein the control unit (114) is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit (112) with the frequency comb signal by means of tuning a central frequency of the downlink frequency comb signal.

10. The apparatus (102) of claim 7, wherein the control unit (114) is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit with the downlink frequency comb signal by means of tuning a spacing of the downlink frequency comb signal.

11. The apparatus (102) of claim 7, wherein the control unit (114) is configured for spectrally aligning the periodic optical filter unit (112) with the downlink frequency comb signal by means of tuning a central frequency of the periodic optical filter unit (112).

12. A method (200) of carrier suppression in a frequency referenced passive optical network, PON, with point to multi-point, P2MP, topology comprising a central node (104) and end nodes (106A-106N), where each end node (106A-106N) is configured to generate an intensity-modulated optical uplink signal and lock a central frequency of the intensity-modulated optical uplink signal to one of reference tones of a downlink frequency comb signal broadcasted by a central node transmitter (108), and the central node (104) comprises a single coherent receiver (110) for detecting a combined uplink signal, the combined uplink signal comprising the intensity-modulated optical signals from the end nodes (106A-106N), the method (200) comprising: separating a portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, suppressing residual optical carriers in the combined uplink signal by periodic optical filtering the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal and the combined uplink signal, monitoring a power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal, and spectrally aligning the periodic optical filtering with the downlink frequency comb signal based on the power of the filtered portion of the downlink frequency comb signal.

13. The method (200) of claim 12, wherein the periodic optical filtering has a free spectral range close to a channel spacing of the frequency referenced passive optical network, PON.

14. The method (200) of claim 12 or 13, wherein the periodic optical filtering comprises: passing the portion of the downlink frequency comb signal through a first optical filter (122), and passing the combined uplink signal through a second optical filter (124), identical to the first optical filter (122).

15. The method (200) of claim 14, wherein each of the first optical filter (122) and the second optical filter (124) comprises one of a microring resonator (130A and 130B), a Fabry-Perot etalon (132A and 132B), a multi-cavity etalon (134A and 134B), and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (136A and 136B).